Can heading and crimping machine.



No. 807,049. PATENTED DBO. 12, 1905.

- L. 0. SHARP.

CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED Mum 1903.

a SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 807,049. ,PATENTBD DEC. 12, 1905.

w L. c. SHARP. CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.9 1903.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

PATBNTED DEC. 12, 1905.

L. O. SHARP.

CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9 1903.

3 SHEBT8-SHBET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEE C. SHARP, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 9, 1903. Serial No. 146,826.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LLEE C. SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing in Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can Heading and Crimping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can heading and crimping machines.

The object of my invention is to provide a can heading and crimping machine of a simple, efficient, and durable construction which will operate to automatically assemble can-bodies and can-heads in position on each other and crimp the heads thereon rapidly and cheaply.

My invention consists, in connection with a feed-chute having three passages or compartments, one for the can-bodies and two for the can-heads parallel and adjacent to each other, of a feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets for receiving, conveying, holding, and registering each a can-body and a pair of heads therefor in alinement with each other, a pair of reciprocating and revolving plungers or chucks for pushing the can heads and body together and revolving the can during the crimping operation, a movable can body former or shaper operating in conjunction with the pocket on the feed wheel or carrier to shape or round the can-body to regular form before the heads are pushed thereon by the rotating and reciprocating heads or chucks, and a pair of movable crimping-rollers to crimp the flanges of the can-heads snugly to the can-body as the can heads and body are rotated.

It further consists, in connection with the carrier-wheel having the series of pockets for receiving and centering the can-bodies and can-heads, of a pairof reciprocating and rotating chucks or plungers for pushing the can-heads upon the can-body and rotating the cans arranged above the center of the feed wheel or carrier, so that when each pocket is brought to and being brought to the posi: tion for registration with the chucks or plungers by the rotation of the feed wheel or carrier the pocket will not be turned over sufficiently to cause the can-body and can-heads to roll or fall out of the same. In other words, the combination of the chucks or plungers and crimping-rollers with the feed wheel or carrier and the can head and body holding pockets thereon is such that when the feed wheel or carrier turns to bring each pocket into position for operation of the chucks or plungers and the crimping-rollers the pocket will be sufficiently uprightto properly retain the can-heads and can-body therein.

My invention further consists in providing a spring or yielding connection between the rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks and the mechanism for reciprocating the same, so that the can bodies and heads will be yieldingly grasped and forced together and provide compensation for variation in the length of the cans.

It further consists in actuating the crimping-rollers by a spring or springs to force or press the same against the cans during the crimping operation.

It further consists in the particular combination of the carrier or feed wheel and the can head and body receiving and centering pockets therein, with the reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks, wherein the chucks or plungers are slightly eccentric to the can lying in the pocket in the carrier, so that when the plungers are forced together to push the countersunk can-heads upon the can-body they will-operate to slightly lift or move the can-heads, and through them the can-body, out of contact with the periphery of the pocket, thus leaving the can heads and body to rotate freely, and thereby preventing the pocket from having any braking or friction action against the rotating can-body and canheads. This materially reduces the power to operate the machine and also insures certainty and perfection of the crimping operation, as the cans are left entirely free to rotate under the action of the chucks.

My invention further consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which simi-- lar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout all the figures, Figure l is a front elevation of a can heading and crimping machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. L is a detail section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectionon line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 6 6 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a detail end view of the pawl-andratchet mechanism for intermittently rotat ing the feed wheel or carrier. Fig. 8 is a chute.

v semicircular in shape.

central vertical section on line 8 8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a central vertical section of the feed- Fig. 10 is a cross-section on line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a crosssection on line 11 11 of Fig. 8. Fig. 12 is a detail front elevation of the feed wheel or carrier. Fig. 13 is a detail longitudinal section of two of the pockets of the feed wheel or carrier, taken radially through the carrier. Fig. 14 is adetail section taken on the line 14 14 of Fig. 9. Figs. 15 and 16 are detail sectional views showing the parts in difierent positions and illustrating the relative eccentric arrangement of .the rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks in respect to the can in the pocket of the feed wheel or carrier. Fig. 17 is a crosssection of one of the pockets on line 17 17 of Fig. 15. Fig. 18 is a detail view of one of the crimping-rollers. Fig. 19 is a detail vertical section through one of the th rust-blocks, and Fig. 20 is a detail view showing a modification.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine.

B is an intermittently-rotating feed wheel or carrier having a shaft B journaled on the frame of the machine and provided with a series of can head and body receiving and centering pockets 6, each somewhat exceeding in length the combined length of the can-body and the two can-heads and each when the machine is used for operation upon round cans Each of these can head and body receiving and centering-pockets b is provided with a pair of semi-annular or semiperipheral raised ribs 5, upon which the can-body X rests, and forming recesses or enlargements b at each end of the pocket to receive the flanges a' of the can-heads'X and an intermediate recess or enlargement b to give room for the projecting tongue 00 of the tearing-strip of a key-opening can. The can-heads Xeach have a countersink m and the flanges w of the can-heads. are flaring, so that the heads slip easily onto the body when brought into registry or approximate registry with each other.

C is the feed-chute for the can-bodies and can-heads, the same being tripartite or having three passages or compartments, a middle one 0 for the can-bodies and two side ones 0" c for the can-heads, the two latter being separated from the former by thin blades or partitions 0 0 of brass or sheet metal.

toward each other.

D D are a pair of reciprocating and rotate ing plungers or chucks by which the canheads are pushed upon the can-body and the cans rotated during the crimping operation,

the same being secured to rotating and recipwith the frame A and furnished with sockets or cavities d and loosely fitting and surrounding the plunger heads or chucks D and which when the chucks or heads D are withdrawn serve to preventthe can-headssticking thereto. l C C are a pair of side guides which extend from the chute G to the cups or hoods D D the same forming a continuation of the side guides C of the chute C. These side guides are flush with the inner faces of the cups or hoods D and serve to hold or guide the can-heads in position as they are conveyed by the carrier B into registry with the plungers or chucks D.

The plungers or chucks D are mounted on the frame slightly eccentric to the can or to the position of the can when resting in the pocket 6 of the carrier, so that when the plungers or chucks are moved toward each other to push the can-heads on the can-body the plungers or chucks entering the countersinks of the can-heads will serve to slightly lift the can-heads, and through them the can- 5 body, from the pocket I) and out of contact with the periphery or wall thereof, as will be readily understood from Figs. 15 and 16 of thedrawings. This resultorslighteccentricity in the position of the plungers'or chucks D D in respect to the can-heads and can-body in the pocket I) is preferably secured by boring or making the pocket 6 slightly larger (in diameter if the can heads and bodies are round) than the can-heads and can-body which rest therein. I prefer to make in practice the pockets about one-sixteenth of an inch larger in diameter in its corresponding parts than the can-heads and'can-bodies fitting therein, thus leaving a clearance between the pocket and can heads and body of about one thirtysecond of an inch when the can heads and body are forced together and clamped or chucked between the rotating plungers or chucks D D. As the can heads and body are rotated by the chucks D D they will thus be entirely clear and free from and out of contact with the surface of the pocket Z). The feed wheel or carrier B, having the series of pockets 6, is preferably made in two separate and independently-adjustable sections B. B, secured to the shaft B by set-screws B so that the two sections of the feed wheel or carrier may be set closer together or farther apart, according to the length of the cans being operated upon. The stripping cups or hoods D are also preferably laterally adjustable to and from each other and made in separate pieces from the frame A and secured thereto by screws D F is a movable shaping device or former which coacts with the pockets 6 in the feed wheel or carrier B to round up or true the can-body to its regular form prior to the movement of the chucks or plungers D D to push the can-heads upon the can body.

G G are a pair of movable crimping-rollers, which operate to bend or crimp the flanges x of the can-heads X close and snug against the can-body while the can heads and body are being held and rotated by the rotating plungers or'chucks D D.

The can-body former F and the crimpingrollers Gr G are preferably mounted upon or carried by one and the same movable holder F, which is secured to or made integral with the overhanging operating-lever F which is pivoted by a pin F to the frame of the ma- The shaper or former F is adjustably and yieldingly connected to the movable holder F by means of a stem f, sleeve f, spring f and set-screw f the stem f having a slot f, through which a pin f on the sleeve f extends to prevent the stem f turning in the sleeve. A rod f, having stop-nuts f, limits the movement of the stem f in respect to the sleeve f. The shaper or former F, or its stem f, is provided with an arm f having an adjusting-screw f, which strikes against a fixed stop f on the frame of the machine and limits the movement of the shaper or former F toward the can-body. The position of the sleeve f on the holder F is fixed and adjusted by the set-screw f The crimping-rollers G are each adjustably and independently connected to the movable holder F, by which they are operated through the connecting-stem g and set-screws g and g there being one stem 9 and one pair of setscrews g g for each crimping-roller, 'so that the crimping-rollers can be independently adjusted on the movable holder or head F, through which they are operated. As the former or shaper F has a spring connection with the movable holder or head F, the holder F can continue its movement toward the can as required to bring the crimping-rollers into operation after the shaper or former F is arrested by the stop-arm f engaging the fixed stop f. This enables the shaper or former F and crimping-rollers G G to be both carried on and operated by one and the same movable head or holder F, while at the same time causing the shaper or former F -to engage and round up the can-body before the chucks or plungers D D push the can-heads on the can-body and clamp the same thereto and before the crimping-rollers are brought into action against the rotating can. In this Way I materially simplify the construction and operation of the machine.

The movable holder F is or may be preferably operated, as before stated, through a lever F which is actuated by acam-lb on the driving-shaft H, which engages a lever 72,,

pivoted to the frame at h and connected by a link 72 with the lever F A spring H retracts the lever ]i. A spring or yielding connection it if 72.6 is interposed between the crimping-rollers G G and the cam 7a or other means that may be employed for operating the crimping-rollers. This spring connection it 72. it is preferably located in the connecting-links 7L3, this being most conveniently done by providing the link k with a sleeve if, spring 72. and a separate section it, which slightly telescopes in the sleeve if, a pin if, and slot hilimitingthe slidingor telescoping movements of the parts if h in respect to each other. The spring 72. is normally compressed under the tension required to produce the requisite pressure of the crimping-roller upon the flange of the can-head under normal conditions. If, however, through irregularities in the cans or can-heads the pressure of the crimping-roller against the flange of the can-head becomes too great and liable to produce injury to the can or machine, the yielding or spring connection between the crimping-roller and its operatingcam permits the crimping-roller to give or yield, thus insuring the performance of perfeet work under all conditions with ease and without danger. The cans are thus crimped with a uniform pressure, and all danger of the crimping-roller cutting, cracking, or breaking the tin in cases where the can happens to be a little large through extra thickness, extra amounts of solder upon the side seam, or other causes is entirely avoided.

As will be observed from the drawings, Fig. 8, the rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks D D, former F, and crimpingrollers G G are so combined with the feed wheel or carrier B and can head and body receiving and centering pockets 6 thereinthat the chucking and crimping operation takes place well above the center or axis of the stationary carrier B, so that the pocket 6 containing the can heads and body is sufliciently upright to prevent the can heads and body from falling or rolling out of the pocket when the pocket is brought and while it is being brought into position for registration or cooperative action with the plungers or chucks D D and former and crimping-rollers, and the three-part chute G for the can-heads and can-bodies is also combined with the feed wheel or carrier B, as shown in Fig. 8, so that one pocket I) of the carrier is in a substantially upright position or substantially over the center or axis of the carrier at the mouth or discharge end of the chute C, so that the can the position wherein they are received to the position wherein the heads are applied to the can-body and crimped thereon. This facilitates the speed and certainty of operation of the machine, as the can-heads and can-body have no opportunity to become displaced in respect to each other before the heading and crimping operation is performed. This particular combination of the three-part feedchute with the feed wheel or carrier and the rotating chucks or plungers and crimpingrollers wherein the can heads and bodies are received and headed and crimped in adjacent pockets of the carrier also enables me to employ in my invention a feed wheel or carrier of small or minimum diameter, which also materially increases the practical speed of the machine, as the centrifugal motion and force of the carrier on the can-heads and can-bodies, tending to throw the same out of the pockets or displace them, is thus reduced to a minimum and made much less than in machines heretofore in use, while at the same time the momentum or loss of power required in stopping and starting the intermittently-rotating carrier is also very greatly reduced.

K is the discharge-chute. Its bottom is provided with a yielding or hinged section K, held in position by a spring k and provided with a stripping-finger 7a to strip the cans from the pockets 5 or prevent their sticking therein. This hinged or yielding bottom of the discharge-chute permits the same to open and discharge the cans rearwardly in cases where, as sometimes happens through the carelessness of attendants, the discharged cans are permitted to pile or wall up in the dischargechute against the feed-wheel, and thus cause stoppage of the machine and destruction of cans. This yielding section of the dischargechute acts as a safety gate or device.

M is a supplemental stripping-finger secured to the bottomof the feed-chute C, which insures the ejection of any cans that may be stuck in the pocket of the wheel, as sometimes may happen where a very large can occurs. The feed wheel or carrier B has an intermediate recess, channel,or open space, preferably between the two sections B B thereof, to accommodate the stripping-fingers k and M.

N N are seats for the operators or attendants who place the heads in the can-head-feed passages or compartments 0 c of the chute C. The chute C, it will be observed, is an inclined one, and the passages or compartments for receiving the can heads and bodies are open at the top.

P is a hinged plate or guard which fits over made integral with the lever 0Z shaft B, which is engaged by a pawl b on a swinging-arm 6, connected by a link 6 with a crank or arm b on the driving-shaft H. The feed-wheel B is held or locked in position for proper registration with the chute C and with the heading and crimping mechanism bymeans of a friction-brake Q, and friction-wheel Q on the shaft B of the feed-wheel, the frictionbrake being furnished with a compensating spring q 'and an adjusting-screw q.

The reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks D D are constantly rotated by pulleys d d on their shafts D D through suitable driving-belts. The plungers or chucks D D are reciprocated as required by means of cams H on the driving-shaft H through the connecting-levers 03 having racks or segment-gears d on their upper ends, which engage toothed thrust-boxes d d, fitting between collars d cl", d d on the shafts D of the plungers or chucks D D. The collars d (2 are made in the form of ball-bearing cups and in connection with the ball-bearing cup d and balls cl give a ball-bearing connection between the reciprocating thrust-blocks d d and the shafts D D. This enables the plungers or chucks D D to be rotated easily and. at great speed and materially increases the practical speed and capacityof the heading and crimping machine. A yielding or spring connection of any suitable form-as, for example, (Z 12 (Z d d is interposed between the rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks D D and the driving-shaft H, by which each of the same are operated. This spring or yielding connection may be located at any point desired between the plunger and its operating-shaft. In practice I prefer to locate this yielding or spring connection between the cam'H and the shaft H and to construct the same substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6-that is to say, of a spring (Z a cup or collar (Z fixed to the shaft H, and amovable sleeve al which bears against the spring, and a plate or Washer (Z which holds the flanged sleeve in place. The spring is normally under compression and operates to yieldingly hold the cam H on the shaft H. Another or equivalent construction for this spring connection is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, wherein the spring is The construction illustrated in Fig. 6 is, however, preferred. p R R are tables or pans upon which the loose heads are placed preparatory to being put into the can-head passages 0 c of the chute C by the operators sittingon the seats N. v

As will be seen from Fig. 8, the crimpingroller G is located below the axis or center of the rotating can, and the movable holder F and lever F move the crimping-roller toward the can in a direction approximately a tangential one to the periphery of the can owing to the location of the pivot of the lever F, and this causes the crimping-roller to contact with the rotating can by a kind of wiping or dragging action thereagainst and prevents any tendency toward vibration or chattering of the crimping-roller against the rotating can, as is the case where the crimping-roller is moved radially or toward the center of the can.

As will be seen from Fig. 18, the crimpingroller F is journaled in the forks f of the stem f on a removable pin or pivot f which is furnished with a split key f, extending through one of the forks f 11 to hold the pivotpin in position and prevent it from turning, while at the same time permitting the crimping-roller to be quickly and easily removed and replaced without the use of any tools for this purpose. This is a matter of convenience, as the crimping-rollers require frequent examination and repairing or dressing.

1 claim 1. In a can heading and crimping machine,

the combination with a three-part chute ha vcan-body feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets therein for receiving each a pair of can-heads and 'a can-body and centering the same with each other, a movable can-body shaper or former, a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks for pushing the can heads and body together and rotating the can, and a pair of movable crimping-rollers, substantially as specified.

2. In a can heading andcrimping machine, the combination with a three-part feed-chute having passages or compartments in juXtapo sition to each other for the can-bodies and canheads, and an intermittently-rotating feed wheel or carrierhaving a series of pockets for receiving, conveying, holding and centering with each other the can-bodies and canheads, a pair of reciprocating and revolving plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier for pushing the can-heads on the can-body and rotating the can, and a pair of movable crimpingrollers for crimping the can-heads on the canbody, substantially as specified.

3. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a three-part chute, having passages qr compartments for can-bodies and can-heads, of an intermittently-rotating can-body feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets therein for receiving each a pair of can-heads and a can-body and centering the same with each other, a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier for pushing the can heads and body together and rotating the can, and a pair of movable crimping rollers, substantially as specified.

4:. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets, each adapted to receive and center with each other a pair of can-heads and a canbody, of a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier, and a'pair of movable crimping-rollers, substantially as specified.

5. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets, each adapted to receive and center with each other a'pair of can-heads and a can-body, of side guides for holding the can-heads in an upright position, a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier, and a pair of movable crimping-rollers, substantially as specified.

6. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating feed-wheel having a series of pockets, each adapted to receive and center a can-body and a pair of can-heads, of a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks coop erating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier, the centers of which plungers or chucks are slightly eccentric to or out of line with the can-heads and can-body resting in the pocket of the feed Wheel or carrier, which is in position for registration or cooperation with said plungers or chucks, whereby the plungers or chucks are caused tolift the canheads and can-body out of contact with the pocket while the cans are being rotated, substantially as specified.

7. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating feed-wheel having a series of pockets, each adapted to receive and center a can-body and a pair of can-heads, of a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier, the centers of which plungers or chucks are slightly eccentric to or out of line with the can-heads and can-body resting in the pocket of the feed wheel or carrier, which is in position for registration or cooperation with said plungers or chucks, whereby the plungers or chucks are caused to lift the canheads and can-body out of contact with the pocket while the cans are being rotated, and a movable crimping-roller, substantially as specified.

8. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-moving feed wheel or carrier having a series of pockets therein adapted each to receive and center with each other a pair of can-heads and a can-body, of a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers 0r chucks cooperating in turn pocket while the can is being rotated, substantially as specified.

9. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-moving feed wheel or carrier having a'series of pockets therein adapted each to receive and center with each other a pair of can-heads and a can-body, of a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of the pockets of said carrier, the pockets in said feed wheel or carrier being slightly larger in diameter than the can-bodies and can-heads resting therein, where-by the plungers or chucks are caused to lift the canheads and can-body out of contact with the pocket while the can is being rotated, and a movable crimping-roller, substantially as specified.

10. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a can head and body receiving and centering pocket, of a pair of rotating chucks or plungers, one movable toward the other, the pocket being larger in diameter than.the can heads and body resting therein to cause the chucks or plungers to lift the can head and body out of contact with the pocket while the can is being rotated, substantially as specified.

11. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a can head and body receiving and centering pocket, of a pair of rotating chucks or plungers, one movable toward the other, the pocket being larger in diameter than the can heads and body resting therein to cause the chucks or plungers to lift the can head and body out of contact with the pocket while the can is being rotated, and a movable crimping roller, substantially as specified.

12. In a can heading and crimping machine,

the combination with a can head and body receiving and centering pocket, of a pair of rotating plungers or chucks, one movable toward the other, the centers of said plungers or chucks being slightly eccentric or out of line with the can head and body resting in said pocket, whereby the chucks or plungers are caused to lift the can head and body out of contact with the pocket as the can is rotated, substantially as specified.

13. In acan heading and crimping machine, the combination with a can head and body receiving and centering pocket, of a pair of rotating plungers or chucks, one movable toward the other, the centers of said plungers or chucks being slightly eccentric or out of line with the can head and body resting in said pocket, whereby the chucks or plungers are caused to lift the can head and body out of contact with the pocket as the can is rotated,

and a movable crimping-roller, substantially as specified.

for can-bodies and can-heads, of afeed-wheel having receiving and centering pockets for can-bodies and can-heads, and a pair of plungers cooperating in turn with eachof said can-body and can-head receiving pockets on said feed-wheel substantially as specified.

15. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a chute having passages for can-bodies and can-heads, of a feed-wheel having receiving and centering pockets for can-bodies and can-heads, and apair of rotat' ing plungers or chucks cooperating in turn with each of said can-body and can-head receiving pockets on the feed-wheel, one having a reciprocating movement to and from the other, substantially as specified.

16. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a chute having passages for can-bodies and can-heads of a feed-wheel having receiving and centering pockets for can-bodies and can-heads, a pair of rotating plungers or chucks, cooperating in turn with each-of said can-body and can-head receiving pockets on the feed-wheel, one having a reciprocating movement to and from the other, and a movable crimping-roller, substantially as specified.

17. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a chute having passages for can-bodies and can-heads, of a feed-wheel having receiving and centering pockets for can-bodies and can-heads, apair of rotating plungers or chucks, one having a reciprocating movement to and from the other, and a spring or yielding connection through which thrust is imparted to one of said plungers or chucks, substantially as specified.

18. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a chute having passages for can-bodies and can-heads, of a feed-wheel having receiving and centering pockets for can-bodies and can-heads, a pair of rotating plungers or chucks, one having a reciprocating movement to and from the other, a movable crimping-roller, and a spring or yielding connection through which pressure is applied to said crimping-roller to force it against the rotating can, substantial] y as specified.

19. In a can heading and crimping machine, a three-part feed-chute having passages or compartments for can-heads and can-bodies in juxtaposition to each other, a can-body and can-head feed-wheel having a series of pockets adapted to simultaneously receive can-heads and can-bodies from said feed-chute and convey them to a position to have the heads forced upon the body, and reciprocating plungers cooperating in turn with each of the pockets on said feed-wheel substantially as specified.

20. In'a can heading and crimping machine, a feed-chute having passages for canb0dies and can-heads. of a feed wheel or carrier having can-body and can-head receiving and centering pockets, the mouth of the chute registering with a pocket on the feed wheel or carrier when the same is in an upright position,

and..plungers cooperating in turn with each of the can head and body receiving pockets on the feed-wheel substantially as specified.

21. The combination with a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks, of a movable crimping-roller, and means for moving the crimping-roller against the rotating can in a direction approaching a tangential one as contradistinguished from a radial one, to cause the crimping-roller to have a kind of wiping or dragging action on the rotating can and prevent vibration or chattering of the crimping-roller, substantially as specified.

22. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a feed-wheel having can head and body receiving pockets, of a pair of reciprocating and rotating plungers or chucks, and antifriction thrust-blocks through which said chucks or plungers are reciprocated, substantially as specified.

23. The combination with a feed wheel or carrier having can head and body receiving and centering pockets, of a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers, a movable former or shaper, a pair of movable crimping-rollers, and a movable holder upon which said former or shaper and said crimping-rollers are all mounted, substantially as specified.

24. The combination with a feed wheel or carrier having can head and body receiving and centering pockets, of a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers, a movable former or shaper, a pair of movable crimping-rollers, and a movable holder upon which said former or shaper and said crimping-rollers are all mounted,said former or shaper having a spring or yielding connection with said holder, substantially as specified.

25. The combination with a feed wheel or carrier having can head and body receiving and centering pockets, of a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers, a movable former or shaper, a pair of movable crimping-rollers, and a movable holder upon which said former or shaper and said crimping-rollers are all mounted,said former or shaper havingaspring or yielding connection with said holder, and a fixed stop for arresting the movement of the former or shaper, the spring or yielding connection between said former and shaper and said holder permitting the holder and crimping-rollers carried thereby to continue their movement toward the can after the former or shaper is stopped, substantially as specified.

26. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with chucks or plungers for grasping and rotating the cans, of a can head and body centering pocket, a movable shaper or former, a crimping-roller, and a movable head or holder carrying the crimping-roller and shaper or former, substantially as specified.

27. The combination with a pair of rotating chucks or plungers, of a pair of independentlyadjustable crimping-rollers, a movable head carrier provided with a series of pockets, of

a discharge-chute having a yielding or hinged bottom, and a stripping-finger secured to said yielding bottom, substantially as specified.

29. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a feed-chute having can head and body passages or compartments, of a feed-wheel having can head and body receiving pockets, a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers, and a pair of stripping cups or hoods surrounding said plungers, substantially as specified.

30. In a can heading and crimping machine, the combination with a feed-chute having can head and body passages or compartments, of a feed-wheel having can head and body receiving pockets, a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers, apair of stripping cups or hoods surrounding said plungers, and side guides extending from said cups or hoods to the feed-chute, substantially as specified.

31. The combination with a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers or chucks, of a pair of stripping cups or hoods, and a pair of crimping-rollers substantially as specified.

32. The combination with a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers for pushing canheads upon a can-body, of a stripping device loosely fitting the plunger to strip the can therefrom as it is withdrawn, and a pair of crimping-rollers substantially as specified.

33. The combination with a pair of rotating and reciprocating plungers for rotating the can, of an arm bearing against the can to stop its rotation after being released by the chucks or plungers, substantially as specified.

34:. In a can heading and crimping machine, a three-part feed-chute having passages for can-heads and can-bodies in juxtaposition to each other, each of the can-head passages being open at the top and provided with an enlarged or beveled entrance to facilitate the placing of the can-heads therein, substantially as specified.

35. In a can heading and crimping machine, a three-part feed-chute having passages for can-heads and can-bodies in juxtaposition to each other, each of the can-head passages being open at the top and provided with an enlarged or beveled entrance to facilitate the placing of the can-heads therein, and the inner wall or partition of said can-head feedpassage being higher than the outer one, substantially as specified.

LEE 0. SHARP. 

